Safe and Fun Retirement Home in Kingston

01 Jun 21

Gail Raymond is strongly motivated by duty. As such, the thought of retiring does not sit easy.

Speaking from her workplace in late May 2021, Gail describes her last day of work this Friday (June 4) as bittersweet.

“It has been great working here,” the 64-year-old confesses. “I’m sorry to be leaving, but the time has come for me to take care of my husband, family and self.”

Gail has worked as a Registered Nurse at Helen Henderson Care Centre in Amherstview for the past 20 years. She was born in Nova Scotia, educated in Montreal, lived for five years in Germany and moved to Ontario in 1977. She has been a nurse for 44 years; most in geriatrics.

In that time, she has seen a lot of changes in the industry. One of the starkest is the increasing level of care required by residents in long-term care (LTC).

“I miss sitting with them and talking. I don’t have time to do that anymore,” the Amherstview nurse says about the heavy workload for health care professionals. “You do the best you can.”

Speaking on behalf of the home, Administrator Lisa Gibson notes, “Gail is a great nurse who knows our residents intimately which allows her to notice subtle changes that might otherwise be missed. We appreciate her dedication and compassion. She has looked after our residents like they are her own family.”

Gail says she chose this time to retire because of her upcoming 65th birthday and 44th wedding anniversary in June and her daughter’s wedding in August. She feels the COVID-19 pandemic over the past 16 months has taken a toll on her.